Led by Polk on the issue, the Supervisors intend to "lend our support to start a stormwall, I guess that would be the best term, in anticipation of them trying to make Arizona another Colorado," says Rowle Simmons, the board's chairman.

Rowle Simmons, chairman of the Yavapai Board of Supervisors

As Simmons points out, Yavapai County is heavily conservative -- perhaps the most conservative county in the state. Although a the Rocky Mountain Poll released in mid-February shows the state leans towards legalization, Simmons says he's certain that's not the case in Yavapai County.

One glaring problem with legalization, Simmons says, is that marijuana is still against federal law. But the former Prescott mayor laughed when New Times suggested he's implying Arizonans must submit to the will of the federal government.

Yet with Monday night's vote, Simmons and the other Supervisors suggested that they do support continuing prohibition.

Precisely why he supports it, though, Simmons found tough to explain. We asked him why it was better to arrest and jail marijuana users -- as is currently done in Arizona, except for registered medicinal users -- than to let them be.

"I don't know," was his answer.

If that implies there is no good answer, he's right.

If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.

Ray Stern has worked as a newspaper reporter in Arizona for more than two decades. He's won many awards for his reporting, including the Arizona Press Club's Don Bolles Award for Investigative Journalism.